BEI INDEX OPENS SLIGHTLY LOWER

Jakarta, Oct. 20 (ANTARA) - The Composite Stock Price Index (IHSG) at the Indonesian Stock Exchange (BEI) here on Tuesday morning, opened slightly lower.

The BEI index went down 1.820 points or 0.07 percent to 2,519.102 and the LQ-45 index weakened 0.843 points or 0.17 percent to 496.266.
Investors actually only released small-cap shares as they concentrated on the presidential inauguration, Alfiansyah, a stock broker of PT Sinarmas Securities, said.
The release of small-cap shares indicated that investors were still active in the domestic capital market.
They, however, remained cautious while waiting of the announcement of new cabinet lineup, following fit and proper tests by the president over the past few days, he said.
He believed that the market would react positively if the new cabinet lineup was announced.
The Indonesian stocks plunged despite Wall Street gains, but it was boosted by the US dollar slump.
He was optimistic that the BEI index would gain following the presidential inauguration, as investors were confident in Indonesia's economy.
BRI shares lost Rp150 to Rp7,950, Bank Danamon shares went down Rp75 to Rp43,750, BCA shares plunged Rp25 to Rp4,775, Bumi shares fell Rp25 to Rp2,975, Inco shares dropped Rp25 to Rp42,75, and Medco shares slid Rp25 to Rp3,125 per share.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian currency in the Jakarta interbank spot market on Tuesday morning traded Rp9,360-Rp9,370 per US dollar, up 30 points from Rp9,390-Rp9,400 at the market's close a day earlier.